Jane Eyre - chapters 5-10

Chapter 5 starts of with Jane preparing to, and leaving Gateshead for Lowood school. She is extremely excited to be leaving her Auntie and cousins behind. On arrival at gateshead she meets Miss Temple and Miss Miller. She is quickly settled in and sent to bed. The next day Jane has her first taste of a day at Lowood. While out on break she meets Helen Burns. The next day Jane witnesses Helen being unfairly punished by Mrs Scratcherd, and beaten with a string of twigs. Later that day Jane talks to Helen about the incident and argues how unjust the punishment was. Helen however accepts her punishment and agreed that it was needed. Helen backs herself up with biblical references such as 'love your enemies'. The next quarter of Lowood drags on for Jane, it is extremely cold and conditions are poor for the children. While in lessons Mr Brocklehurst arrives and begins to talk with Miss Temple. Jane remembers him from Gateshead and does her best to hide herself behind her slate. Mr Brocklehurst picks up on a girl, Julia Stevens, who had curls in her hair and orders a barber to come and cut it off, he is seen to be a hypocrit here as his daughters and wife are both in the room with curled hair, his wifes hair being unnaturally curled. Soon after Jane accidently drops her slate, with a crash on the floor Mr Brocklehurst calls her to him, sets her on a stool and makes and example of her, calling her a liar and evil, with references to the devil. Later that day Helen finds Jane sobbing in the room, Helen comforts Jane. Miss Temple then comes and and invites the two to her room where Jane explains her life at Gateshead to Miss Temple who makes sure that Janes name is cleared of Mr Brocklehursts accusations. Miss Temple keeps watching Helen and sighing and asks her about her health.

Themes

Similar themes run throughout the first of these chapters. The conditions at Lowood school are not good and the weather is still very cold and icy. This carries on the theme from the start of sadness. Nothing still does not seem to be very bright for Jane, despite her new surroundings. There are however a couple people at Lowood who show some hope for Jane, Miss Temple and Helen who both in these chapters have cared for Jane. However when Jane witnesses Helens unfair punishments an unjust theme is shown. There is also alot of religious references made by both Helen, when explaining why she deserves her punishment, and by Mr Brocklehurst when Jane is stood on the stool. The theme seems to become alot warmer and loving when Jane visits Miss Temple in her room. She allows Jane to defend herself against Mr Brocklehursts accusations.

Reading Journal - Jane Eyre chapter 1-4

Characters -

Jane: Forced to live with her Aunt and cousins who constantly mistreat her. Feels very lonely with very few people she can talk to. The opening chapter describes her life as dull, cold and overall negative.

John, Eliza, Georgina: The Children of Mrs Reed and Janes cousins. John follows in Mrs Reeds way of treating Jane. He is violent and bossy. Georgina is described as beautiful and perfect in many ways. She is often used as an example to Jane.

Bessie: One of the few people at gateshead who shows compassion for Jane.

Chapter 1

Chapter one begins by describing and setting the scene for Janes life as bleak and cold. We then see Johns abusive behaviour towards jane, he bosses her about and commands her to do as he wants, 'Say "what do you want Master Reed;"'. For the first time, Jane shouts at John and describes him as, "like a murderer". For this, John throws a book at her and Mrs Reed locks her in the 'red room'.

Quite a dull start. The description at the beginning is very negative, "the cold winter wind had brought with it, clouds so sombre, rain so penetrating".
The narrator of the story is Jane herself.

Chapter 2

Jane is locked in the red room. Mr Reed who had recently died, died in the red room. A light then appears on the ceiling and Jane believes it to be a ghost haunting the room, she then screams and Bessie and Mrs Abbott come.

The description in the chapter is again quite negative. The theme of death and fear also feature in chapter two, with the ghost incident. "My heart beat thick, my head grew hot; a sound filled my ears,". I think the short sentences used here make Jane seem like she is panicking and very frightened.

Chapter 3

Jane wakes up in her own room, with Bessie and a doctor, Mr Lloyd. Bessie nurse Jane baack to health and shows her compassion for Jane. Jane then explains exactly how she feels about gateshead to Mr Lloyd, who suggests she should go to school.

Things look abit brighter for Jane in this chapter, she feels alot more comforted. "I felt so sheltered and befriended while he sat in the chair near my pillow". She describes how she feels comfortable around Mr Lloyd, and how he treats her well. Bessies actions towards Jane show someone does care for her.

Chapter 4

Mrs Reed calls Jane to speak with her and meet Mr Brocklehurst, from Lowood school. Mrs Reed means to send Jane to school and Mr Brocklehurst asks her a series of questions. When he leaves, Jane has an arguement with Mrs Reed and feels very good afterwoods as she believes she came out the victor.